Washing-machine device



Jan. 8 1924.

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UNITED STATES "1,480,414 PATENT OFFICE;

NICOLJ LPETTI, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE DEVICE.

Application filed December 20, 1920. Serial 110,481,968.

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Be it'linown that NICOLA PE'ITI, a citizen I of the United States, residing at Cleveland,

in the county of Cuyahoga and State of 5 Ohio, has invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machine Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to washing machines 1 and especially to that class to be used in laundries where a large amount of work is to be done. "One object of my invention is the provision of a separate basketor' box for each individual.-

'to be ironed.

The washing machine is rovided with 'a series of compartments 'ain veyor. A number of containers-are placed in the machine and are automatically car-- ried through several compartments containing hot soapy water for washing, clear water for rinsing and also drying compartments. After leaving the drying compartments the containers automatically leave the machine and are ready for. delivery to the owners.

The containers in passing through the machine are revolved back and forth in passing through the washing and drying compartments.

A number of novel features are embraced in the machine and will be pointed out. in the detailed description to follow.

Fig.1, shows asideview of the entire machine. a

Fig. 2, is a plan'view of- Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged 'section'of one part of Fig. 1.

, Fig. 4, is a continuation of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5, is a verticalsectional viewof the machine.

Fig. 6, is a detail showing the chain or conveyor construction.

Fig. 7, is the sectional end view of Fig. 6."

Each party or household. a container in the shape of a special con-.

Fig. 8, is'a fragmentary detail showing the racks and gears for operating the containers.

Fig. 9, is a sectional detail of one of the,

carriers for the container.

Fig. 10, is also a sectional detail ofone of the carriers. I

Fig. 11, shows an end detail partly in section of one of the carriers.

Fig. 12, shows in detail the manner in which the container is attached to the conveyer.- Y

Fig. .13, is a plan view of a container. Fig. 14, is a. transverse -cross sectional view of the container.

Referring first. to Figs-1, 2, 8 and 4 it will be noted that the machine comprises a plurality of compartments 1, 2 -3, 4 and 5 Compartment 1 contains soapy water which is heated to a boiling point .by means of the burners 11 placed immediately below the a mixture of hot water and soap. .Compart ment 3 contains clear hot water for rinsing. Compartment 4 is the primary drying compartment throughwhich is forced hot air bymeans of the fan' or blower 24. Compart ment 5 is the final drying compartment which is heated by the steam pipes 17. As

shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the .tube or outlet 20 is connected to the top of the compartment 1 for carrying off vapor from the compartment as indicated by the arrows. Afterpassing thru the outlet 20, they finally escape thru the outlet 26.

- The outlet 26 extends to. a point above the burners 11 for carrying oif the gas fumes. Fig. 5 shows, as indicated by the arrows how the fumes pass from below the lower comments.

4 Referring-to Fig. 3, it will be noted that a series of burners 11 are shown which communicate with the pipe '20 which extends to @My invention is illustrated in the accom-' panying drawings wherein;

partment. .Furthermore' this hot air is drawn by means of the fan 24 to compart ment. 4 asare hereinafter described. The

fan or blower24 is also connected with an inlet 'pipe 23 which received hot air from .the compartment 5. An exhaust pipe or out let 26 is provided for carrying off the gas fumes from the burners and the exhaust steam from the compartments 1, 2 and 3, as

the pipe 26 has the ordinary connection between the compartments 1, 2, and 3.

- compartment. Compartment 2 also contains plied for heatingcompartment 5.

Each one ofthe pipes is provided with the usual type valve 18.

An exhaust pipe 27 is also provided for the purpose of carrying off steam and hot air. It will be noted that the compartments containing water namely; compartments 1,

'tion of the containers themselves.

2 and 3 occupy the lower portion or level of the machine proper while the drying compartments are immediately above the first mentioned compartments.

A conveyor comprising two endless chains 35 and 36 extend along the outside of all the compartments. The conveyor is for the purpose of carrying the containers which holds the clothes to be washed through each one of the compartments in succession. Each chain is partly supported by means of the uprights 34 and 136 at the extreme ends of the machine and also by the rollers as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The upright 34 is provided with two sprocket wheels 33 over which the chains 35 and 36 pass while upright 136 is provided with two sprocket wheels 77 over which the two chains pass. Attached permanently to the same shaft which carries the sprocket wheels 33 is a wheel 32 which is driven by a belt 31 by means of the motor 30.

The machine is provided with a receiving compartment 8, Fig. 3 in which the con tainers are placed and also with a dispensing or inclined portion 9 to which the containers pass after they leave the last com partment of the machine. This inclined portion is provided with the curved bumper 10 for preventing the containers dropping to the floor.

Before describing the mechanism associated with the conveyor for operating the containers I will first describe the construc The containers in question are shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. Each container is of a cylindrical shape provided with the corrugations 62 and a series of holes or openings 61. Each end of the cylinder comprises a con vex end or wall 66. Each wall or end is provided with a reinforcing segment 166 containing a recess 65.

- The end walls project beyond the cylindrical body 60 and are provided with. the

rubber gaskets 63 and 64; These gaskets are for the purpose of preventing damage to the container and'also reduce the amountof noise during the operation of the machine.

Each container is also provided with a door 68 attached to the container by'means of the hinges 67. The door is maintained fastened by means of the hasps or locking devices shown at 69', Fig. 13. Instead of fastening these hasps by ineans of the pins as shown suitable pad-locks can be used.

Each container is divided into two parts by means of the separator 99. This separator is for the purpose of allowing colored clothes to be placed one side and the white clothes in the other. The partition not shown is parallel to the two sections 65 and 64 and can be locatedanywhere between these sec-- tions so as to divide the compartments into two sections of the same or unequal parts.

Each one of the conveyor chains 35 and 36 is made up of a series of lengths 135 such as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 which are carried by the upper and lower rails or guides 44.

Figs. 1, 3 and at as stated show a series of rollers or bearings 370 for supporting the chain. These bearings are placed at the angular points and the tracks 44 extend up to or nearly to these bearings and. support the chain to prevent its sagging The tracks or section of tracks Mare placed along the entire space occupied by the compartments which are traversed by the chains excepting at the angular or curved portions where the chains are supported by means of the bearings 370 and the sprocket wheels 33 and 77.

As shown in Fig. 8 a series of racks 37 and 38 are placed along side of rails and paralleled thereto for the purpose of rotating the containers alternately in opposite directions as they travel through the var-i ous compartments.

Inserted between the links of the chain 35 at certain intervals as shown in Fig. 8 is a mechanism serving to support or engage one end of the container as shown in detail in Fig. 12. This mechanism comprises as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and'12 a casing provided With an internal gear 42. Attached to this casing is a series of stems 43. The opposite ends of these steins are imbedded in or fastened to a disk 50. These.

stems act as a gear wheel for engaging the racks 37 and 38. The stems engaging the racks 37 and 38 turn thecuse 42 containing the internal gear. The internal gear engages and turns the gear wheel 41 which in turn engages and turns the gear wheel 40 which is mounted upon the shaft 51 which terminatcs in the enlarged portion or head 52. This enlarged portion 52 is provided with a square shaped recess 53 in which a plunger 51 also square shaped moves. This plunger is permanently attached to a rod to which is attached a nut 56. Between the nut 56 and the shaft 51 is a recess contain ing a spiral. tension spring 57. The action of this tensionspring tends to force the plunger 5 1 outward in engagement with the recess65 of the container. Any movement engagement with the recess in the container.

of the plunger 54 causes. a corresponding movement to be imparted-to the container. When the stems 43 engagethe racks 38 the container is moved in one direction and when engaging the racks 37 thecontainer is moved in a reverse direction. The holding mechanism to the left of Fig. 12 is similar to that shown to the right, excepting that the mechanism comprising the gears, etc., are omitted. A plunger 80 is provided for engaging a recess in the container or a basket. This plunger is provided with a reduced portion, surrounded by a f tension spring 82 serving to force the plunger into Figs. 11 and 12 show therelative positions of the tracks 44 the racks 37 and 38-and the cooperating gears andthe plunger. The racks and tracks are supported by means of the standards 7 O and 71 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. v

As shown in Fi 12 the chain 35 is provided with a; hol ing device shown to the left of the containerFig.-12. This device takes the place of the link mechanism shown in Fig. 7 one being provided for each container. Instead of the gear mechanism shown to the right of Fig. 12 and in detail in Figs. 9, and 11 the device simply comprises a round plunger 80 provided with the reduced portion 81 which-is surrounded by a tension spring 82 resting against the nut 83 which engages the reduced portion 81. The action of the tension spring serves to force the plunger 80 into engagement with the opening of the container as shown in Fig. 12. 'f

By referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5' and 8 a complete understanding of the-operation of the washing machine can be obtained from the following description:' The clothes to be washed are placed in the container after which the container is placed in the receiving compartment 8. Each container is held in place by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12, associated with the conveyer. The plunger 54 enters one recess of the container while plunger 80 enters the other recess of the container. The motor 30, being in operation and driving the two chains and 36 causes the container tobe carried in through the first compartment 1 which contains boiling soapy water. As the contalner moves through this compartment it is rotated alternately in opposite directions by means of the gear mechanism plainly shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 12, engaging the racks 37 and. 38 in succession. When the rack 37 is engaged thegears are oper ated in one direction and when the rack 38 is engaged the gears are operated in a reverse direction. The reverse operation of the gears causes a reverse operation of the contamer as it passes through compartment 1. Thi reverse direction causes the clothes in the container tobe thrown back and forth and as the water in the compartment passes I partment 1 it' is carried by the' conveyer over' the roller 370 and over: the dividing partition between compartments 1 and 2.

The same process takes place in compartment 2 as in compartment 1. After the washing process takes place in compartment 2 the container is carried by means of the conveyer over the roller and over the partition dividing compartments 2 and 3' The containerfentering compartment 3 is moved back and forth thoroughly rinsing the clothes. 7 Y

' After leaving the rinsing compartment the container is carried into the first drying compartment 4 through which is forced hot air by means of the blower or fan 24. .After passing the blower the container enters compartment 5 which is heated by means of the series of steam pipes as 17 shown in Fi 5. ifter leaving the last compartment the container enters the incline 9 and is brought to rest against the bumper 10. The container rolls down the incline upon the rubber cushions or gaskets 63 and.64 asshown in Fig. 12.

The chains 35 and 36 where they pass over the rollers 370, just before they leave the last drying compartment are closer together than where they pass over the sprocket gears 33 shown in 'Fig. 3. In other words the chains spread apart between the last bearing 370 and the gears 33 thereby allowing the plungers and 54 as shown in Fig. 12 to be withdrawn from the recesses in the con'-- tainer. This method removes the necessity for the operator of the machine to remove the containers from the conveyer.-

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The same-arrangement is. provided where the containers enter the machine as the distance' between'the chains 35 and 36 is greater at the sprocket wheels 33 than it is at the bearing 370 placed before the first or No. 1 compartment.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a washing machine for carrying a plurality of containers through various washing and drying compartmentsat the same time. Each con- .tainer holds the clothes or other material from a certain party and overcomes-the objection of having the clothes of one party mixed with the clothes of another party.

The containers and compartments can be made of wood or any suitable metal as desired. v The compartments located at the lower portion or level of the machine as well as the tracks 44: receive additional support by means of the uprights 91, 92. 98, 9t and ,95

shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. These uprights extend to the top of the upper portion of the machine proper and-are fastened thereto by means of suitable brackets of any desired type.

That portion of the machine forming the walls of the compartments as shown at 100 and 101 are slotted so that the plungers 54; and 80 shown in Fig. 12 can pass so as to carry the containers. It. has not been thought necessary to illustrate the slotted portion as is perfectly obvious without illustration. In order to increase or decrease the speed of the container when swinging back and forth it will only be necessary to change the size of the case 42 containing the internal gear or by varying the sizes of'the gears 40 and 41 or if necessary an additional gear wheel can be added to the train of gears.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a plurality of compartments arranged in a straight row, a plurality of containers, means for attaching said containers to said conveyor, means for causing the operation of said conveyor whereby said containers are carried in succession through said compartments, and means for rotating said containers back and forth as they are carried through said compartments.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a. conveyor. a plurality of compartments, a plurality of containers. means for attaching said containers to said conveyor, means for operating said conveyor to cause said containers to pass through said compartments in succession, means for rotating said containers back and forth as they are carried through said compartments, and means for automatically detaching said containers from said conveyor when they pass through the last compartment.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a. conveyor, a plurality of compartments arran ed in a strai 'ht row a container means for attaching said container to said conveyor, and means for operating said con-- veyor to cause said container to pass through said compartments in succession, and means for causingsaid container to rotate back and forth as it passes throughsaiid compartments. I

1. In a washing machine, the'combination of a. series of horizontally arranged compartments, a conveyor. means for operating said conveyor, a plurality of containers attached to said conveyor, the operation of said conveyor causing .said containers to pass through said compartments in succession, and additional means for causing said.

nee s-1a containers to rotate back and forth as they pass through said compartments.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a series of compartments arranged in a horizontal row, an endless chain passing on each side of said compartments, means for operating said chains, a plurality of containers, means associated with said chains for holding said containers, one of said.

chains having a set of gears for each container, a rack for o crating said gears,the

operation of said c ains causing said confor controlling said gears, said containers during the operation of Said conveyor passing through said compartments insuccession, and means controlled by the operation of said gears by said rack for causing said containers to rotate alternatelyin opposite directions as they pass 'through said com- 'partments.

7. In a clothes washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a plurality of compartments arranged in a straight row, said compartments comprising a washing compartment, a rinsing compartment and a drying compartment, a plurality of containers, means controlled by said conveyor for causing said containers to pass thru said compartments in the order named, and means for rotating said. containers back and forth as they pass through said compartments.

8. In a washing machine, the combination.

of a conveyor, a plurality of compartments arranged in a straight row, a plurality of containers, means controlled by said conveyor for causingsaid containers to pass thru said compartments in succession. a gear associated with each container, a plurality of racks arranged above and below said gears, and means controlled by said racks for causing said containers to rotate back and forth as they pass 'thru said compartments.

9. In a washing machine, the combination of a. conveyor, a plurality of compartments arranged in a straight row, a container, means controlled by said conveyor for caus ing said container to pass thru said compartments in succession, a plurality of racks, mean controlled by certainpf said racks for causing said container to rotate in one direction, and means controlled by other of said.

racks for causing said container to rotate in the opposite direction when passing thru said compartments.

10. In a washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a plurality of compart-.

ments, a container, means for detachably fastening said.container to said conveyor, means for operating said conveyor to cause said container to pass thru said compartments in succession, means associated with said conveyor for causing said container to' rotate back-and forth as 1t passes thru said compartments. 4 11. In a washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, plurality of compartments, a container, means for detachably causing said container to rotate back and forth during the operation oi sa1d conveyor,

the operation of saidcon'veyor causing said container to pass through said compartments in succession,

In testimony whereof, I-aifiir my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

1 NICOLA PETTI. o Witnesses:

L. G. MoNIsH, A. S. COUNTS. 

